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Haiti's severe deforestation — which is projected to lose all of its remaining primary forests within the next two decades (S. Blair, 2018)

Resulted in widespread soil erosion, diminished agricultural productivity, and heightened vulnerability to natural disasters such as floods and landslides.

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More than 80% of energy comes from burning charcoal, a vital source of energy in rural areas.

The income earned from cutting down trees and producing charcoal plays a crucial role in sustaining many residents' livelihoods across the country. (Saint, 2022, Earth.org)

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1. Reforesting large areas would restore ecosystems, stabilize soils, and improve water retention, helping agriculture and reducing the impacts of hurricanes and floods.

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2. Reforesting degraded land would help regenerate soil fertility, allowing for more productive agriculture. This would address Haiti’s food insecurity by increasing the ability to grow crops locally rather than relying on expensive imports.

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Since 2015, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has initiated the Action Against Desertification in Haiti.

11,645 hectares of degraded land was restoration by planting 5 million seedlings of local forest and fruit species.

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Reforestation requires significant resources:

Seedlings

Labour

Water management

Soil restoration techniques

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Haiti lacks the local capacity and resources to manage such a large project without substantial foreign investment, which has been difficult to secure due to the country's political situation.

Despite past reforestation efforts, Haiti's primary forest coverage remains critically low at less than 0.32% as of today.

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The cost of land rehabilitation, replanting, and long-term maintenance is extremely high, especially considering the country's lack of infrastructure and funding.

“Attempting to put limits on forestry practices without providing alternative livelihood support is not going to work,” Caitlyn Eberle, a scientist at UNU-EHS.

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Short-Term Priorities vs. Long-Term Solutions

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Short-Term Priorities vs. Long-Term Solutions

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Many people in Haiti rely on cutting down trees for fuel or agricultural land to meet immediate survival needs. Reforestation requires a long-term investment, but in the short term, people still need the basics, which creates a conflict between immediate needs and long-term environmental goals.

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Despite the clear benefits of reforestation for Haiti’s environmental recovery and societal resilience,

The costs and challenges of such a solution make it difficult to implement on a large scale without external assistance.

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Caused by overconsumption and overproduction

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Characterised by cheap, low-quality clothing

Since mid-2000, an average consumer buys over double the amount of clothes than before

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Up to 40% of clothes produced per year are unsold

Every second, a garbage truck of second-hand clothes ends up in a landfill

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Adverse effects on countries receiving unwanted clothes

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Adverse effects on countries receiving unwanted clothes

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Socio-economic impact: Ghana receives 15 million second-hand fast fashion items weekly, but 40% cannot be sold due to their poor quality

Environmental degradation: clothes in landfills take over 200 years to decompose, releasing harmful GHG and chemicals, so does incineration

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Sustainable Singapore Blueprint and the Zero Waste Masterplan

US Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2023

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H&M: recycles old garments in stores

Patagonia: Worn Wear platform allows customers to sell and buy second-hand Patagonia goods

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Production: few countries impose levies on unsold items

Consumption: only 60% of consumers in Singapore are willing to pay more for sustainable fashion

Recycling: 16,855 tons of clothes are recyled by H&M in 2023 vs 92 million tons wasted worldwide

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Experts believe that the industry needs radical changes -> a 40% reduction in production over 5 years

In developed countries, many bills passed in recent years, which may face significant delays in implementation

In many less-developed countries, regulations and infrastructure have yet to be developed

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Overall, our efforts remain too little and too late to reverse decades of environmental damage and increasing economic costs